Today is a glorious day…warm and clear. In other places we might call it Indian summer but since the thermometer is topping 70°—an almost unheard of high around here even in August—I’ll just say we’re closing in on summer’s end. We head to the beach to soak up some sun. Folks are out in shorts and tees. And the summer wind continues to barrel down the shore and US 101 from the north.

But it’s clear the season is ending in the garden where the tomatoes have finally begun to ripen and the beans have passed from flower to pod. It’s obvious from the dying vines and drying onion tops that autumn has begun. The occasional cool breeze brings us up short, a harbinger of the months ahead.

Another sign: Early this morning was the peak of the harvest moon, the first full moon after the equinox. It’s outstanding because, unlike other times of year, the moon rises earlier after the sunset for a number of days in a row, making it appear as though the full moon lasts multiple nights instead of the standard one or two.

A final sign: Port Orford’s yards are littered with “vote for (fill in the blank)” banners, a sure sign that November is just around the corner. Here in Oregon ballots will begin to be mailed October 16. That’s also the final day to register. Please register if you haven’t and vote. It’s the only voice you’ve got. If you don’t know if you’re registered, need to register, or live in another state, check out this site for last chance dates:

In search of summer produce beyond our own tomatoes and zucchini (we harvested our first Friday) I hit Port Orford’s Farmer’s Market. It’s high season now and there was everything from mesclun mix to apples. Even tomatoes! My particular favorites: the variety of peppers and those wonderful green beans, harvested black, that turn green when they cook. Delicious. Want to know more? Visit: portorfordfarmersmarket.wordpress.com/

Then I headed to Langlois’ Valley Flora, a wonderfully pastoral community supported agriculture (CSA) farm which also offers produce to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays and has U-Pick strawberries and raspberries.

It was the perfect day for a visit. Families wandered through the high bush raspberries reaching up for the fruit, then down on hands and knees to root for strawberries down long rows. There were all sorts of vegetables available too. I opted for carrots, beets and a huge head of romaine.

It’s true, there’s nothing like home grown. I know I’ll be back come Wednesday. For more info on Valley Flora visit: www.valleyflorafarm.com/

A walk among the beds shows a full array of gardening possibilities for our quirky coastal climate. This August we’ve had mostly clear cool (mid-60°) days but those vegetables and flowers have also had to deal with full sun and a desiccating north gale, fog, partial sun, and even, very occasionally 70°+ temperatures (you can almost watch the squash and tomatoes grow on those days.)

While we’ve given up on our front yard garden’s tomatoes (the deer have delicately nibbled through the “deer proof” netting) the community garden’s got a nice high fence. Most of the grazers there are slugs which seem particularly fond of succulent greens. Still, most of us are seeing our gardens grow; for some there’s enough for our Saturday farmer’s market as well as for The Common Good, Port Orford’s food pantry.

Peas and Lettuce

Here’s what I’ve seen in the garden recently: snow peas (we harvested at least 20 pounds ourselves), broccoli, cabbage (green and purple), strawberries, chard, spinach, squash, kale, potatoes, pak choi, snap and pod peas, celery, lettuces, cauliflower, radishes, and herbs. There’s even some plump pea whose pods stick straight out from the stalk. The green beans are beginning to flower and the tomatoes and peppers have begun to set.

Potatoes

And the flowers! While the flashy orange, red and pink-edged oriental poppies are almost past, there are two beds which are overflowing with violas and velvety purple petunias as well as lettuce and tomatoes. Some gardeners have landscaped beds; others have beds completely devoted to spinach or beans. The sheer abundance of green is delightful.

Oregon Spring Tomato

We’re not certain our own, heirloom looking Oregon Spring tomatoes will ripen on the vine. Stan says we can always put them in a sunny window. But come fall, sun may be hard to find.

Still there’s a bright side of Port Orford gardening. We never need to worry about a killing frost.